Plunger for brewing a drink

• US 6,964,223 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2001
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nick O'Loughlin
• Original Assignee: Nick O'Loughlin
• Inventors: O'Loughlin, Nick
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US10/398,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20040011205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 992/97, 993/02.P, 993/18, 993/19, 993/17, 993/20, 993/23, 426/433, 426/434, 426/435
• US Class Current: 99/297
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/02 Coffee-making machines with removable extraction cups, to be placed on top of drinking-vessels i.e. coffee-makers with removable brewing vessels, to be placed on top of beverage containers, into which hot water is poured, e.g. cafe filter filters A47J31/06
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0636 suspended from the top of the beverage container so as to remain in contact with the prepared infusion tea eggs A47G19/16

Abstract

Plunger (10) for brewing a drink in a cup (12) includes two main components, a filter disc (20) and a frame (22). The filter disc (20) is shaped to extend across and abut an inside surface (24) of the cup (12). The frame (22) is dimensioned so that it can be wholly inserted into the cup (12) to be disposed below a mouth (18) of the cup. This allows a drink such as coffee or tea to be brewed in the cup from which it is to be consumed without the plunger (10) interfering with the drinking of the drink. The disc (20) is supported on the frame (22) to slide along upright posts (22). Thus the disc (20) can be pushed toward the bottom or (14) of the cup (12) that contain particulate materials such as coffee grounds or tea leaves used in brewing the drink. A heat shield (58) may be also supported on the frame (22) to minimise the rate of heat loss of a hot drink brewed in the cup (12) using the plunger (10).

Claims

1. A plunger for brewing a drink from a particulate substance the plunger comprising:

a filter screen provided with a plurality of holes or pores dimensioned to substantially prevent the passage therethrough of the particulate substance;

a frame provided with a first end and an axially opposed second end, the first end comprising a ring, and a plurality of posts extending from a periphery of the ring and coupling the ring to the second end;

a filter disc coupled to the frame and supporting the filter screen, the filter disc adapted to receive an implement to push the plunger to a bottom of a vessel; and

a particle seal extending circumferentially about the filter disc to prevent said particulate substance from passing about an outside of said frame.

2. A plunger according to claim 1 wherein the frame comprises a plurality of nibs on an outer circumferential surface of the frame.

3. The plunger according to claim 1 wherein the filter disc comprises a carrier that supports the filter screen.

4. The plunger according to claim 3 wherein the carrier comprises first and second parts between which the filter screen is retained.

5. The plunger according to claim 4 wherein an upper end of the frame comprises a plurality of spokes that extend radially and join a central hub.

6. The plunger according to claim 1 wherein the frame comprises a plurality of legs that depend from the second end of the frame on a side opposite the first end.

7. The plunger according to claim 1 wherein the filter disc is slidably supported on the posts.

8. The plunger according to claim 1 wherein the filter disc is fixed at the second end of the frame.

9. The plunger according to claim 1 wherein the ring is provided on an inside surface of the ring with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart inwardly directed projections or tabs.

10. The plunger according to claim 1 further comprising a heat shield disposed over the filter disc and supported by the frame.

11. The plunger according to claim 10 wherein the heat shield comprises first and second disc elements located on opposite sides of the filter disc.

12. The plunger according to claim 11 wherein each of the first and second disc elements includes a plurality of spaced apart openings, wherein the first and second disc elements are juxtaposed so that the openings in the first disc element are radially offset with respect to the openings of the second disc element.

13. The plunger according to claim 1 wherein the particle seal comprises a radial extension of said filter screen.

14. The plunger according to claim 1 wherein the seal is formed separately of said filter screen.

15. The plunger according to claim 12 further comprising a heat shield disposed over the filter disc and supported by the frame.

16. The plunger according to claim 15 wherein the heat shield comprises first and second disc elements located on opposite sides of the filter disc.

17. The plunger according to claim 16 wherein each of the first and second disc elements includes a plurality of spaced apart openings, wherein the first and second elements are juxtaposed so that the openings in the first disc element are radially offset with respect to the openings of the second disc element.

18. A method for brewing a drink from a particulate substance in a vessel having a bottom wall, a side wall extending upward from the bottom wall, and a mouth extending about the side wall, the method comprising:

providing a plunger comprising a frame having a first end and an axially opposed second end, the first end comprising a ring, a plurality of posts extending from a periphery of the ring and coupling the ring to the second end, and a filter disc coupled to the frame and supporting a filter screen, the filter screen comprising a plurality of holes or pores dimensioned to prevent the passage therethrough of the particulate substance;

depositing a quantity of a particulate substance into the vessel;

pouring a liquid into the vessel;

inserting the plunger into the vessel; and

,

pushing the plunger with a separate implement bearing on the filter disc to a location within the vessel where the plunger is disposed below the mouth of the vessel.

19. The method for brewing a drink according to claim 18 further comprising:

adding milk, sugar or other additives to the vessel after the step of pushing the plunger.

20. The method according to claim 19 further comprising the steps of:

consuming the drink;

then withdrawing the plunger from the vessel by gripping the ring and pulling on the ring.

21. A plunger and vessel system for brewing a drink from a particulate substance and a liquid, the vessel comprising a bottom wall, a side wall extending upward from the bottom wall and a mouth extending about the side wall through which the plunger is inserted into and withdrawn from the vessel;

the plunger comprising a filter screen provided with a plurality of holes or pores dimensioned to substantially prevent the passage therethrough of the particulate substance, a frame with a first end and an axially opposed second end, the first end comprising a ring, a plurality of posts extending from a periphery of the ring coupling the ring to the second end, a filter disc coupled to the frame and supporting the filter screen, the filter disc being adapted to receive a separate implement to push the plunger to a bottom of the vessel; and

wherein

the plunger and vessel are relatively dimensioned so that when the plunger is pushed by the implement to a lowest point within the vessel, the frame is disposed below the mouth of the vessel.

22. The plunger and vessel system according to claim 21 further comprising a particle seal extending circumferentially about the filter disc.

23. The plunger and vessel system according to claim 22 wherein the particle seal is comprised of a radial extension of the filter screen.

24. The plunger and vessel system according to claim 22 wherein the seal is formed separately of the filter screen.

25. A plunger according to claim 21 wherein the frame comprises a plurality of nibs on an outer circumferential surface of the frame.

26. The plunger according to claim 21 wherein the filter disc comprises a carrier that supports the filter screen.

27. The plunger according to claim 26 wherein the carrier comprises first and second parts between which the filter screen is retained.

28. The plunger according to claim 27 wherein an upper end of the frame comprises a plurality of spokes that extend radially and join a central hub.

29. The plunger according to claim 21 wherein the frame comprises a plurality of legs that depend from the second end of the frame on a side opposite the first end.

30. The plunger according to claim 21 wherein the filter disc is slidably supported on the posts.

31. The plunger according to claim 21 wherein the filter disc is fixed at the second end of the frame.

32. The plunger according to claim 21 wherein the ring is provided on its inside surface with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart inwardly directed projections or tabs.

33. A plunger for use in brewing a drink from a particulate substance and a liquid held in a vessel, said vessel having a bottom wall, a side wall extending upward from said bottom wall and a mouth extending about said side wall through which said plunger can be inserted and withdrawn, said plunger comprising:

a filter shaped to extend across and sealingly abut an inside surface of said side wall of said vessel, said filter provided with a plurality of pores or holes dimensioned to substantially prevent passage therethrough of said particulate substance;

a frame supporting said filter, said plunger including means for receiving a separate implement, and dimensioned so that when said plunger is pushed by an implement received by said receiving means to a lowest position within said vessel, said frame is disposed below said mouth; and

wherein the frame is provided with at least one upright post along which said filtering means can slide, and first and second opposite ends between which said at least one post extends wherein said first and second ends retain said filter on said at least one upright post and the sliding of said filter along said at least one upright post is limited by said first and second ends.

34. The plunger according to claim 33 wherein at least one of said first and second ends includes engaging means for engaging an implement or a finger of a user for withdrawing said plunger from said vessel.

35. The plunger according to claim 34 wherein said engaging means includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart, radially inwardly directed projections between which said implement can be engaged.

36. The plunger according to claim 33 wherein said first and second ends are each in the general configuration of a ring having a common axis which extends substantially parallel to said at least one upright post.

37. A plunger for use in brewing a drink from a particulate substance and a liquid held in a vessel, said vessel having a bottom wall, a side wall extending upward from said bottom wall and a mouth extending about said side wall through which said plunger can be inserted and withdrawn, said plunger comprising:

a filter shaped to extend across and sealingly abut an inside surface of said side wall of said vessel, said filter provided with a plurality of pores or holes dimensioned to substantially prevent passage therethrough of said particulate substance;

a frame supporting said filter, said plunger including means for receiving a separate implement, and dimensioned so that when said plunger is pushed by an implement received by said receiving means to a lowest position within said vessel, said frame is disposed below said mouth; and

wherein said filter includes a carrier and a filter screen supported by said carrier, and said carrier includes an outer circumferential rim provided with a plurality of apertures through each of which a respective one of said at least one upright post extends.

38. A plunger for use in brewing a drink from a particulate substance and a liquid held in a vessel, said vessel having a bottom wall, a side wall extending upward from said bottom wall and a mouth extending about said side wall through which said plunger can be inserted and withdrawn, said plunger comprising:

a filter shaped to extend across and sealingly abut an inside surface of said side wall of said vessel, said filter provided with a plurality of pores or holes dimensioned to substantially prevent passage therethrough of said particulate substance;

a frame supporting said filter, said plunger including means for receiving a separate implement, and dimensioned so that when said plunger is pushed by an implement received by said receiving means to a lowest position within said vessel, said frame is disposed below said mouth; and

a heat shield disposed over said filtering means and supported by said frame for reducing the rate of heat loss of a hot beverage brewed using said plunger.

39. The plunger according to claim 38 wherein said heat shield includes first and second disc elements located on opposite side of said filtering means.

40. The plunger according to claim 39 wherein each of said disc elements includes a plurality of spaced apart openings, wherein said first and second disc elements are juxtaposed so that the openings of said first disc element are radially offset with respect to said openings of said second disc element.

41. The plunger according to claim 40 wherein said filtering means further includes a seal extending circumferentially about said carrier to form a seal between said carrier and said side wall of said vessel.

42. A plunger for use in brewing a drink from a particulate substance and a liquid held in a vessel, said vessel having a bottom wall, a side wall extending upward from said bottom wall and a mouth extending about said side wall through which said plunger can be inserted and withdrawn, said plunger comprising:

a filter shaped to extend across and sealingly abut an inside surface of said side wall of said vessel, said filter provided with a plurality of pores or holes dimensioned to substantially prevent passage therethrough of said particulate substance;

a frame supporting said filter, said plunger including means for receiving a separate implement, and dimensioned so that when said plunger is pushed by an implement received by said receiving means to a lowest position within said vessel, said frame is disposed below said mouth; and

an agitator rotatably coupled to said filter for agitating a drink in said vessel.